BARGAIN hunters with a sweet tooth are in for a treat tomorrow, when a mini-mountain of chocolate goes under the hammer at a North-East saleroom.

Bishop Auckland auctioneer Denis Edkins is selling off the stock of two upmarket confectioners and expects to take bids from chocoholics across the region. He has divided the contents of The Chocolate Box, Gosforth High Street, Newcastle, and another business in Hexham, Northumberland, into small lots so they appeal to private purchasers.

The Chocolate Box closed after only a few months and the sale is on the instructions of the Official Receiver in Newcastle.

But Mr Edkins will not be tempted to put in a bid himself because, as a diabetic, he is forbidden sugary sweets.

He said: "There are some very expensive boxes of chocolates and confectionery. A lot is from the Continent and is very high quality. It is very tempting, but unfortunately I can't eat any myself.

"I have divided it up into lots of two or three boxes so that people can buy as much or as little as they want."

The sale starts at 1pm at Mr Edkins' Auckland Auction Rooms, Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, telephone (01388) 603095.